On Aug. 13, 2022, an impressive training camp and start to the preseason for Bucs outside linebacker Cam Gill came to a bitter end.

Gill had flashed in the early days of camp and tallied a sack and two tackles for loss in Tampa Bay’s preseason opener against Miami. But in that game, he suffered a season-ending foot injury. Suddenly, the former undrafted free agent from Wagner went from fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster to injured reserve.

Bucs OLB Cam Gill – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

That injury started a long road back to his return to the field, which came in the Bucs’ 2023 preseason opener against the Steelers on Friday night — Aug  11, 2023.

“It was a long journey,” Gill said after Friday’s game. “It wasn’t easy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. God doesn’t make any mistakes. He doesn’t give his soldiers any battles that they can’t handle. It’ll just be another testament to my story, another obstacle that’s in the road. I’m back now and I’m 100%. And that’s all that matters.”

Gill was back on the field Friday night, and he was also back to making an impact. He finished the night with 1.5 sacks, picking up right where he left off 363 days ago.

“You always want to put yourself in a game-like situation and see what it’s like. So this is the first big step,” Gill said. “I was glad to be back out there, just flying around, seeing the fans, being in a game-like atmosphere. It’s almost been a full year today. I got hurt last year on August 13. Somebody reminded me today it’s been like 363 days, so I’ve been chomping at the bit, working every day to get back out there.”

Cam Gill Is In A Better Spot Physically

Bucs OLB Cam Gill – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

While the journey back to game action was a long one for Cam Gill, he now feels like he’s in a better place physically. He’s back to 100%, but he’s also added some weight in muscle in preparation for his return to the field.

He said after Friday’s game that he was around 230-235 pounds last year, but now he’s up to 243-245 and he’s happy with how he’s carrying that extra mass and muscle.

With the added weight and his recovery process in the past, Gill got to build some confidence Friday night by racking up a sack and a half against the Steelers. He also added a hurry later in the game.

“It definitely builds my confidence,” Gill said. “But I still have to look at the tape and see what things I can fine-tune so I can stay on top of my game to keep getting sacks, tackles for loss and just put myself in the best position to help my team win.”

Can Gill Looks To Survive Some Tough Decisions At Outside Linebacker

The challenges that Gill went through to get back on the field after his Lisfranc injury now have him facing another obstacle: making the Bucs’ 53-man roster out of training camp.

Tampa Bay’s outside linebacker group is loaded at the moment, and it’s a position that head coach Todd Bowles specifically pointed to when asked about some of the tough decisions that he’ll have to make when it comes time for roster cutdowns.

Bucs OLB Cam Gill and DT Ndamukong Suh – Photo by: USA Today

“Primarily at outside linebacker,” Bowles said this week. “All of them can play. That’s going to be the toughest one. We have some competition at other spots, but from top to bottom, the outside linebacker room is probably the toughest one because all of these guys can play in this league.”

Shaq Barrett, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Anthony Nelson and Yaya Diaby are locks to make the roster and fill out the first four spots on the depth chart at the position. How many spots are up for grabs from there depends on how many outside linebackers Tampa Bay decides to carry. But there are plenty of options for Bowles to consider.

There’s 2023 sixth-round pick Jose Ramirez, undrafted free agent Markees Watts, who had a strip-sack Friday night, and Hamilcar Rashed and Charles Snowden – a pair of practice squad players from last year. And of course, there’s also Gill. The man who picked up a half-sack in the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV win over the Chiefs three seasons ago is fighting for a job, but he’s also enjoying himself and having fun working with the other guys in the room.

“We’re solid. From top to bottom. Everybody can play,” Gill said. “It just makes coming to work fun. We definitely push each other, we compete. It’s just fun working with these guys. I love this room. It’s all brotherly, friendly competition.

“We don’t hold anything from each other, we pick each other’s brains, look out for each other and have [each other’s] best interests and just push each other to play harder.”

Whether Gill makes the team and suits up for the Bucs’ Week 1 matchup in Minnesota against the Vikings remains to be seen. But for now, he’s completed one big step in his journey back to the field, and in the weeks to come, he’ll continue to play like he has something to prove.